I did mean recruit by the way lol, and yes I know it is a bold statement, being that he has never played one game of high school ball in the US. But watch his highlight film, and you see the gifts he has and the tools he already has. He has played on the international stage for almost 3 years now, and I read where he thinks he still has another 2-3 inches to grow!

quote:And what makes you think that he's going to LSU? The fact that he's from Australia

Well, you may or may not know who LSU has on their basketball staff. David Patrick knows every potential recruit that comes out fo Australia. Every recruit out of Australia is automatically a front runner by virtue of Patrick being at LSU, thats how important he is.

I know for a fact LSU is recruiting him and I know for a fact that Patrick spoke with him about reclassifying. It was a great decision for him because he could be the first straight to the NBA player in a long time that is regarded as a concensus Top-5 pick from overseas. Bolden will play in the NBA some time soon.

I think LSU is in great shape having Patrick here, but I also can speak objectively and know he may want to go to an established great basketball power. But LSU this year on the court could sway him.

So in short to answer your question yes the fact that he's from Australia is my main determining factor.

quote:I did mean recruit by the way lol, and yes I know it is a bold statement, being that he has never played one game of high school ball in the US. But watch his highlight film, and you see the gifts he has and the tools he already has. He has played on the international stage for almost 3 years now, and I read where he thinks he still has another 2-3 inches to grow!

He's obviously a great prospect. But the #1 recruit in the entire class? That's pretty high praise...

quote:Well, you may or may not know who LSU has on their basketball staff. David Patrick knows every potential recruit that comes out fo Australia. Every recruit out of Australia is automatically a front runner by virtue of Patrick being at LSU, thats how important he is.

I'm well aware of Patrick's Australian connections. Doesn't mean you can pencil in every Australian prospect as an LSU lean. It's a pretty big country/continent/island/whatever. If he's as good as people have been saying, blue bloods will definitely be after him.

quote:I know for a fact LSU is recruiting him and I know for a fact that Patrick spoke with him about reclassifying. It was a great decision for him because he could be the first straight to the NBA player in a long time that is regarded as a concensus Top-5 pick from overseas. Bolden will play in the NBA some time soon.

Exum would more than likely go in the Top 5 in 2014 if he chooses to go straight to the NBA.

Landwise its a very big country yes, but basketball wise it strictly limited to a couple of basketball academies and cities, and Patrick actually helps coach and run some of these programs. He knew Darcy Malone when he was 7 and actually coached him for like 3 years. When I say he knows every prospect that has even the potential of going D-1 he knows every prospect.

Look at Bolden's film, and ask yourself this a 6'11 bonafide true SF that has a developed mid-range game, has great court vision, can lead the break and be a Lebron type PG, and can bang down low if need be. You see why I think he could be #1 for 2014. Out of all the film I have seen on the 2014 class he impresses me the most, and he is only 16! He is young for the 2015 class, he could be 17 when he starts working out for Pro scouts after his college year.

Your right I in no way pencil every Australia kid as an LSU lean, but to dismiss the connection as nothing more than a recruit knowing a coach, it goes way beyond that, Patrick is seen as the godfather of sorts in Australia basketball.

Yes I do think Exum is a top-5 pick because of his age and international experience, people often say Indiana is his top choice right now, I say its the leauge.

He also doesn't seem like a "Lebron type PG" or a "banger" from his highlight videos (yes, I watched them). He seems like a long, athletic combo forward with a solid all-around skill set and high bball IQ. He's an impressive prospect, no doubt. But to say that he's going to be the #1 prospect in his class is probably a bit hyperbolic.

I'm not doubting Patrick's connections, but he's not going to be able to get every college prospect that comes out of the country, especially when blue bloods are involved. It's still early in Bolden's recruitment... We'll see where it goes.

It would definitely help LSU's cause imo if Victor were to pick LSU, considering they'll both be playing for Findlay this season. Findlay will be loaded. It should be interesting to see how they distribute their playing time between Oubre, Bolden, and Victor.

I agree with your assessment of Bolden. He's an athletic Forward with the ability to shoot the 3-pointer and command the fast-break. Again, he really reminds me of Nicolas Batum.

As far as Patrick, I think having him on staff gives LSU a big advantage with almost all Australian prospects. I don't think rzd30 meant that LSU can pencil in every Australian prospect as a LSU commit. It's just a big advantage we have with Patrick on staff.

quote:As far as Patrick, I think having him on staff gives LSU a big advantage with almost all Australian prospects. I don't think rzd30 meant that LSU can pencil in every Australian prospect as a LSU commit. It's just a big advantage we have with Patrick on staff.

This. Every Australian prospect Patrick talks to they immediately put us in their top schools list. We would never be in it for Exum, Bolden or Simmons if he wasn't here but we sit among their top schools. It's a great advantage to have, especially with Aussieland really producing elite talent lately.

Patrick recruited quite a handful of Aussies to St. Marys. Folks they likely wouldn't have gotten without Patrick.

We also would have never gotten Darcy Malone without Patrick, who had other offers from Notre Dame, Butler and Georgia Tech.

I know he is not 6'11 I was referring to the article I read about him saying he wasn't done growing thats all. And I am sorry I must have read soemthing older and just assumed because he reclassified he was a year younger.

quote:He also doesn't seem like a "Lebron type PG" or a "banger" from his highlight videos

What is a Lebron type PG, my definition is a point forward who has the versatility to guard 4 positions, can handle the ball, shoot with ease, and more than anything use his superior athleticism to dominate both ends. I am in no way comparing Bolden and saying he will be the next Lebron just saying as a comparison, the only reason I dont like the Batum comparison is because I think Bolden is a little more skilled now than Batum was when he was at that age, thats all.

quote:But to say that he's going to be the #1 prospect in his class is probably a bit hyperbolic

I completely undertstand that point and agree, I said it was a bold statement but just think he will explode once he starts competing in the US. International prospects have a tendency of getting over-hyped because they are seen as interesting and unkown commodities, I reall do think he has an NBA type game, and unfortuantely when they do basketball recruiting they have eyes more toward the next great one and dones not the best high-school players that will transition best into college.

quote:Blue-bloods get involved, definatel help LSU's case if Victor were to pick LSU

I agree 100% I am realistic and know LSU basketball has a mountain to climb before it can call itself a basketball power once again. Florida is a Top-5 program in the country and Donovan a Top-5 coach. I respect your opinion more so than a UK fan, well lets just face it, its not a program, but an NBA prep academy, which is sad but true, and I hold nothing against Calipari or UK they are just winning according to the sysytem. But I am excited with the direction LSU basketball is headed and happy to see us once again mentioned nationally.

I do not want to argue I think all of your points are valid and have talked with you on other threads, I think everyone will agree a stronger LSU basketball program is better for UF and the entire SEC.